M. Babinet Alerted by His Maid to the Passage of the Comet 1858

Editor: This is Honoré Daumier’s print, "M. Babinet Alerted by His Maid to the Passage of the Comet." It's interesting how Daumier depicts scientific discovery alongside everyday life. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: This lithograph reflects the democratization of astronomy. The figure of Babinet suggests the burgeoning middle class, now consuming science, not just producing it. Consider the lithographic process: a relatively cheap, mass-producible medium, disseminating this image widely. Who had access to such images? How did this consumption shape their understanding of science and class? Editor: So it's not just about the comet, but who gets to see it and how it's shared? Curator: Precisely. The material and means of distribution are integral to the work’s message. The maid is central to this access. Editor: That makes me think differently about the whole scene. Curator: Indeed, by focusing on the materials and their dissemination, we reveal the complex social dynamics embedded within the image.